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Lip Colour And Your Health: The colour of your skin can tell a lot about your health and well-being. They are a window to your overall health and well-being and can be major indicators of health problems. Lip discolouration is a common phenomenon that can be caused by several infections, essential nutrient deficiency, excessive sun exposure and smoking.

Changes in the colour and texture of your lips may be important health signals or warning signs and your body may be alerting you to identify them and take necessary actions. Let’s dive into what different lip colours say about your health and how you can take care of them. 

What Is Lip Discolouration?

Lip discolouration may be a result of several factors like staining from foods and drinks to an underlying medical condition. The colour of your skin has a pivotal role to play in determining your lip colour. The lighter your skin colour, the lighter your lips and vice versa. 

Different Lip Colours And What They Indicate

Blue Lips

If you turn your lips in the shade of blue, it is called cyanosis which is caused by poor oxygen circulation in the blood. Our blood often changes colour depending on the presence of oxygen in the body. Blood rich in oxygen is bright red, while on the other hand, blood with low levels of oxygen usually is dark red or purple. Some common causes of blue lips may include choking, asthma, shock, heart failure, blood clots in the lungs and extremely cold temperatures among others. 

White Lips

White or pale lips are usually caused by anaemia, which is a low red blood cell count in the body. Anaemia that may turn your lips white or pale might be severe and require immediate medical attention. A diet low in iron, vitamin B-12 and folate, blood loss from heavy menstrual flow and bleeding in the intestinal tract may lead to your lips turning pale or white. 

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What Your Lip Colour Says About Your Health (Image Credits: Canva)

Black Tips

One of the major factors that cause black lips is smoking. It can cause your lips and even gums to turn blackish due to gingival pigmentation. An injury or bruise can also cause your lips to turn blackish due to blood clotting. 

Spotted Lips

Dark or black spots on your lips may usually be associated with angiokeratoma of Fordyce, which is a non-cancerous and non-contagious skin condition that may resemble genital warts. Sunspots, certain medications, hemochromatosis, laugier-hunziker syndrome, peutz-jeghers syndrome, carney complex and cancer may be some common causes of spotted lips. 

How To Achieve Pink And Smooth Lips?

Drink lots and lots of water to nourish your body with adequate hydration. Exfoliate your lips using a homemade scrub made of sugar and honey to remove dead skin cells and achieve pink lips. Apply a natural lip balm or SPF lip balm to add moisture and smoothness to your lips. Drink healthy juices like beetroot juice to keep your skin healthy from within.

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(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)